[One Day Walk] Eat Snow Crab, Walk the 'Dongbaekkkot' Japanese House Street... Enjoy Guryongpo 100 Times More

Snow crabs waiting for their owner at Guryongpo Suhyup Auction Market
Photo by Yonhap News

The ‘Guryongpo Snow Crab Festival,’ which had not been held for four years due to COVID-19, is returning. The ‘2023 Guryongpo Eoseoosige’ festival will take place for three days from the 24th to the 26th at Arigwang Square in Guryongpo Gwamegi Culture Street, Pohang. Near Arigwang Square are popular tourist spots such as the Japanese House Street, where the hit drama ‘When the Camellia Blooms’ was filmed, the Gwamegi Culture Center, and Homigot New Millennium Memorial Hall. Visitors to Pohang can enjoy the crab festival along with these nearby attractions.

Entrance to Japanese Residential Street
[Photo by Pohang City]

Today’s recommended course starts at Guryongpo Aragwang Square and continues through Gwamegi Mulhoe Street, Japanese House Street, and the breakwater. ‘Ara’ is an old word meaning ‘to reach the sea.’ At Aragwang Square, there is a sculpture shaped like a ship’s bow and benches under the ship’s shed for resting. On the shed, you can also see a sculpture depicting a fisherman pulling in a net. Although it is not Gwamegi season, after exploring Gwamegi Mulhoe Street at Aragwang Square, you will find Japanese House Street. This area was settled by many Japanese fishermen during the Japanese colonial period when Japan developed Guryongpo Port and managed the East Sea region.

The bar "Camellia" run by the female lead in the drama "When the Camellia Blooms"
[Photo by Pohang City]

More than 50 Japanese-style wooden buildings remain, and in 2010, Pohang City established the ‘Guryongpo Japanese House Street.’ The entrance to the street splits into three paths: to the left is the house street, to the right is the Guryongpo Modern Museum, and straight ahead are the Camellia’s House and a park. This area gained attention as the village where the heroine ‘Dongbaek’ lives in the drama ‘When the Camellia Blooms.’ There are friendly guides about the drama at the entrance and throughout the alleys. Many visitors take commemorative photos in front of the building that housed ‘Camellia,’ the pub run by Dongbaek. In front of Dongbaek’s house, there is a small park featuring nine dragon statues representing the legend of nine dragons ascending to heaven, which is the origin of Guryongpo’s name, as well as photos depicting the village’s 100-year history. Near Japanese House Street, there are many other attractions such as the Gwamegi Culture Center and Guryongpo Columnar Jointing.

Main Stops for Walking in Guryongpo

Guryongpo Aragwang Square - Gwamegi Mulhoe Street - Japanese House Street - Gwamegi Culture Center - Ara Art Village - Guryongpo Breakwater. 2.5 km, 40 minutes